Apple Reportedly Planning Substantial Increase of Shipments for 5G mmWave iPhone Models in 2021

Apple is expected to substantially increase shipments of mmWave enabled iPhone models in 2021 thanks to the increased demand and improved global support for the newer technology, according to DigiTimes.

Screen Shot 4
Apple currently only offers mmWave-enabled ‌iPhone‌ 12 models in the United States and is likely to hold off on offering the option to more countries until the technology is more widely available. According to DigiTimes, that wider availability will take place this year, and as a result, Apple is set to increase shipments of mmWave iPhones.

Apple is expected to boost its 5G mmWave smartphone shipment goal for 2021 as the global economy is on track for stable recovery, and its demand for AiP modules supporting mmWave iPhones will grow remarkably this year, the sources said.

In 2020, Apple lowered its 5G mmWave iPhone shipment projections as construction of the corresponding infrastructure in the US and Europe was severely dragged down by the pandemic.

The ‌iPhone‌ 12 was the first ‌iPhone‌ to feature 5G connectivity. 5G connection includes two types of networks, mmWave, which is considered to be the next widely adopted standard that offers super-fast speeds, and a 6GHz connection that is currently the conventional option worldwide. mmWave networks work through higher frequency radio bands that can range from 24Ghz to as high as 40Ghz.

Due to their increased frequency, mmWave is extremely limited in range and requires more advanced and expensive infrastructure compared to 6GHz. Cities and countries around the world are still very much in the early stages of adopting mmWave technology. Even in cities where mmWave technology is present, real-world 5G speeds can differ greatly depending on your proximity to the mmWave tower and the device you're using.

When we tested Verizon's mmWave network with a Samsung Galaxy S10 5G smartphone in Chicago in mid-2019, we reached speeds as high as almost 2GBs. Still, we found that speeds vary drastically depending on your location and other factors. You can checkout our full mmWave vs. sub-6GHz guide for more information and insight.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

apple tv 4k new orange

New Apple TV Expected Later This Year With These New Features

Saturday July 12, 2025 3:09 pm PDT by
A new Apple TV is expected to be released later this year, and a handful of new features and changes have been rumored for the device. Below, we recap what to expect from the next Apple TV, according to rumors. Rumors Faster Wi-Fi Support The next Apple TV will be equipped with Apple's own combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. He said the chip supports ...
iphone 16 pro ghost hand

5 Reasons to Skip This Year's iPhone 17 Pro

Thursday July 10, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series in two months, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro Coming Soon With These 16 New Features

Friday July 11, 2025 12:40 pm PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are only two months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models. Latest Rumors These rumors surfaced in June and July:A redesigned Dynamic Island: It has been rumored that all iPhone 17 models will have a redesigned Dynamic Island interface — it might ...
Apple Watch Ultra 2 Complications

Apple Watch Ultra 3: What to Expect

Sunday July 13, 2025 10:30 am PDT by
The long wait for an Apple Watch Ultra 3 is nearly over, and a handful of new features and changes have been rumored for the device. Below, we recap what to expect from the Apple Watch Ultra 3:Satellite connectivity for sending and receiving text messages when Wi-Fi and cellular coverage is unavailable 5G support, up from LTE on the Apple Watch Ultra 2 Likely a wide-angle OLED display that ...
iphone 16 pro pro max

iPhone 17 Pro Models With BOE Displays Will Be Sold in China Only

Thursday July 10, 2025 11:59 pm PDT by
iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models with displays made by BOE will be sold exclusively in China, according to a new report. Last week, it emerged that Chinese display manufacturer BOE was aggressively ramping up its OLED production capacity for future iPhone models as part of a plan to recapture a major role in Apple's supply chain. Now, tech news aggregator Jukan Choi reports...
top stories 2025 07 12

Top Stories: iPhone 17 Pro Rumors, iOS 26 Beta 3, and More

Saturday July 12, 2025 6:00 am PDT by
The iOS 26 public beta release is quickly approaching, while developers have recently gotten their hands on a third round of betas that has seen Apple continue to tweak features, design, and functionality. We're also continuing to hear rumors about the iPhone 17 lineup that is now just about right around the corner, while Apple's latest big-budget film appears to be taking off, so read on...

Top Rated Comments

Michael Scrip Avatar
56 months ago
mmWave... providing super-fast internet to street corners and sidewalks!

?
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Justin Cymbal Avatar
56 months ago
I bought the iPhone 12 Pro right when it came out and love it!

I live in the Boston area and the 5G here is extremely fast
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
0924487 Avatar
56 months ago

mmWave... providing super-fast internet to street corners and sidewalks!

?
Seriously, if we need more 5G towers than wifi routers, why don't we just litter the city with wifi access points? In Shanghai, they have "i-Shanghai", which is a wifi SSID you can connect to for free everywhere in the city. That's better than 5G for mobile phones.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
GeoStructural Avatar
56 months ago

Honestly, isn’t there a way to completely disable that antenna? It’s responsible for phone overheating and overconsumption, and I just don’t feel comfortable with that technology, which is expensive and completely useless.

Please Apple make mmwave optional.
I have a similar problem, my phone keeps switching between antennas and that is not “seamless” as Apple describes it, I just lose reception for a while. I have tried putting it back to LTE and it has solved the issue, but then I have to go to settings every time I would like to use 5G. Annoying.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ksec Avatar
56 months ago

In Canada we don’t have mmW deployments and our iPhones do not have the radio transparency window opposite the SIM card slot.

I wonder how many other countries are also ignoring that technology and getting similar iPhones. I wonder if any anyone has bargained for a better price on the iPhones that are missing the radio!
They are not really ignoring, so to speak. Is just that most of them had trials and there is nothing that shows a decent cost / benefits ratio. So as far as I am aware most of the major carriers around the world dont plan to have them implemented. The keyword here is "plan". i.e If you have a plan *now*, it would still take 3-4 years for national roll out. If they dont even have a plan, well god knows if it will ever be out.

It is the same thing with small cells ( or now called nano cells or whatever the marketing decide to call it ). It is great in theory but in reality the business model doesn't really work.

That was the last update in 2019 when I looked at multiple carrier 5G deployment for something up to 2023. I dont know if there are changes in plan but I seriously doubt it.

Although Apple's support of mmWave doesn't just have to be 5G. It could be for other usage as well such as 802.11ay. Allowing 10Gbps *real world* transfer between line of sight. You could have iPhone transferring to another iPhone upgrade happening in minutes or seconds.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jasonefmonk Avatar
56 months ago
In Canada we don’t have mmW deployments and our iPhones do not have the radio transparency window opposite the SIM card slot.

I wonder how many other countries are also ignoring that technology and getting similar iPhones. I wonder if any anyone has bargained for a better price on the iPhones that are missing the radio!
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)